Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-17

In 1860 he had received a tolerable
English education, and, as he was Il
inherit no fortune, his enterprisinf
spirit induced him at that early age
to seek residence in the western
part of Virginia near the frontiers.
BY turning to any history the reader
will find, in the period including 1863
Washington was making frequent
visits to the western part of Virginia
and spending much Of his time there
looking after interests he had ac.
quired. He had some years previously
married the Widow Custis, and in re.
ferring to this event several of the bi.
ographers speak of Washington as
having had cone or two affairs which
had turned out unfortunately"
In IVA trouble with the Indians
broke out on the western Virginia
frontier, the savages being melted to
hostilities by British emissaries.
Washington, was prominent in the
campaign which was inaugurated.
The sketch of Thomas Posey says that
the young man received an appoint
ment in the Quartermaster' depart
ment. A little later Washington was
at the head of the Continental forces,
and the biography of Posey says he
had joined the army, and, young as
he was, had been Immediately ap-
pointed captain. Right here a
brief quotation from the sketch in the
Port Folio:
Soon after Captain Posey joined the
main army General Washington di-
rected selection of officers and men
to be made from the different corps to
compose rifle regiment, to be COM
manded by Colonel Daniel Morgan.
Young Posey was one Of the Captains.
No mention is made of the influence
which gave Posey this commission in
the crack command of the Continental
army. But little later he showed the
blood that was in him, when "Mad
Anthony" Wayne led the night as
sault upon Stony Point with a picked
body of officers and men. That most
brilliant and daring feat of the Revo-
luton called from Congress vote of
thanks to every man who participated
in it, and u gold medal for "Mad An
thony."
From Major, Posey rose to Colonel,
and then to Brigadier-General. He
distinguished himself by personal
prowess in the Georgia campaign, and
when the war was over he settled
again in Western Virginia, but did
not remain long. From some source
he had inherited restless spirit of
adventure and enterprise. He moved
further Westward, and in 1910 he was
found presiding as Gov
ernor over the Senate of Kentucky.
When the war of 1912 came on
General Posey was one of the
first to present himself, and was
placed at the head of the troops raised
by Kentucky. When hostilities were
over handsome tribute to General
Posey's course was paid by the author
ties of Kentucky. Leaving this rec
ord behind him, he moved to Attaka-
pas, in Louisiana, and was sent to the
United States Senate. That position
ne gave up to accept the more impor-
ant one of Governor and Commission
er in charge of Indiana Territory. The
sovernorship he held until the admis-
'ion of Indiana as State.
Washington and Posey lived to
nearly the same age sixty-seven
,ears-and the manner of death in
Zach case was very similar. WASH
ngton caught a severe cold from
ride in the rain. Posey
contracted his cold on the Wabash
River in bad weather; both men took
o their beds; the usual remedies
allied and they passed away calmly
conscious and giving instructions as
o worldly matter just before the end.
Posey, before he died, PLACED in the
lands of his wife a sketch of his life
md sealed letter. The letter has
lever been made public.
One more extract, and the most
significant of all, remains to be given
rom the Port Folio sketch. 1t is this
In his person General Posey was
all, athletic and finely formed. His
appearance united dignity and grace
illness, and in his manners were
blended in a remarkable degree the
lately and gallant bearing Of the sol
lier with the ease and suavity of the
gentleman. His face was
handsome, his features
Ugh, fine and prominent, and if at
lines they assumed the stemness of
ommand, there was a softness in his
me blue eye, spirit and intelligence,
mingled with calm and benevolent
Expression, which pervaded the whole
that at once attracted
he admiration and even the affections
{ the beholder.
And there the sketch closes. Be-
ween the lines one may read that the |
esemblance OF Posey to Washington |
7as very striking, but the writer of |
824 makes no mention of it.
Years afterward there appeared in |
n encyclopedia brief sketch of Gen
raj Thomas Posey, in which were
sed these words: "He was the init
nate friend of Washington.
In Sparks american Biographies,
in the forties, there is a |
hort sketch of General Thomas
'osey, which the author says was
ompiled from memoranda in the !
lands OF his family. This, too,
gnores the story of the relationship
With Washington. 1t contains moth |
ng more in the way of information
han appears in the Port Folio sketch,
,ut there is the following rather |
urious reason given for the elaborate
PERSONAL description:
"We should not allude to subject |
% apparently unimportant, says the
,iograper, "if it were not that the per-
onal appearance of this distinguished
both as to form and fea-
ure, were SO attractive as to be sub
ect of remark wherever he was
The Shawneetown tradition must
tand as such. 1t has no record of
,irth or published history to rest upon,
,ut it is none the less interesting.